Buckle construction



ocr; 1o, 195o s1-mugre BUCKLE Consfmucnon vFiled maren 1, 1949- PatentedOct. O, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a buckle construction.

AIt is an object of the .present invention to provide a buckleconstruction adapted for use on wrist watch straps and belts wherein thefree end of the strap can slide through the buckle construction withoutthe free end of the strap having to be bent and to preserve the leatherof the strap, increase its life, keep its stitches from being opened andthe leather surface from being marred.

' It is another object of the invention to provide a buckle constructionadapted for use with an' enlarged or thickened free end of the strapwherein the free end of the strap cannot leave the buckle and thereby toprovide a safety watch strap which will prevent the watch from beingdropped while the watch is being lput on or taken off the wrist of thewearer and wherein it is unnecessary for the wearer to hold the watchclose to the body while loosening the strap or tightening the same aboutthe wrist.

Other o-bjects of the present invention are to provide a buckleconstruction which permits the easy sliding movement of the free end ofthe Y strap through the same, which is'of simple construction,inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble upon the strap, has aminimum number of parts, sturdy and rugged, convenient to use andefficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is aperspective view of a wrist watch having the buckle constructionaccording'to one form of the invention connected to its strap andilustrating the manner in which the strap is fixed about the wrist -of awearer.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the buckle construction shown in Fig.`l. v

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the buckle and strap portionsshown in Fig. 2 and as viewed on line 3-3 thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of the invention whereinthe tongue is pivoted on the same part which the pivoted slide isconnected.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a still further form of the inventionwithout the pivotal slide, but having a groove for receiving the tongueand the safety strap feature.

\ Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a still further eye portion 28receiving the pin 26.

form of the invention and of a buckle construc-V tion adapted for usewith a large belt.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of one end of the buckle showing thepivoted slide and the groove therein for receiving the tongue.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 7.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, I5 represents a wrist watchto which straps I6 and I1 are connected. The strap I6 is of doublethickness and is folded at its end, as indicated at I8, and stitchedalong the sides, as indicated at I9, to retain a pin 2| projecting fromthe opposite sides of the strap and on which is pivoted a slide orU-shaped member 22 having depending side portions 23 receiving the endsof the pin 2l. This slide 22 can pivot and through the same may beextended the strap Il having holes 24 for receiving a bent tongue 25.

The tongue 25 is secured to the strap by a pin 26, Fig. 4, embedded inthe strap I6 and held against longitudinal displacement by thestitchings I9 and against displacement within the strap by stitchings21, Fig. 3. The tongue 25 has an The strap has an opening 29 f-orreceiving this eye portion 28 of the tongue 25.

The free end of the tongue is adapted to fit in a top groove or recess3l in the pivotable slide 22 to hold the tongue against lateraldisplacement.

. of the wearer, the wearer need not be concerned about the samedropping from the wrist'l as the thickened end of the strap Il will notpass through the slide 22 and accordingly, the watch cannot fall fromthe wrist. Because the slide can pivot, it can adapt itself to the strapIl so that there is no need to bend the strap l1 to any appreciableamount to effect the sliding movement of the slide thereupon. The slide22 moves along the strap Il freely and easily and without the strap Ilhaving to be bent, distorted or worn. The wearer need only grasp thethickened free end of the strap Il and pull slightly with a littlelifting movement and the slide will move easily and Vautomatically intoalignment with one of the openings 24,50 that the tongue 25 can beeasily and quickly inserted to nally x the straps I6 and Il together andto secure the watch upon the wrist. l

In Fig. 5, there is a slightly different construction wherein the bucklecomprises a U-shaped aseaozc face of the slide 3l' and the pin issufcient to y receive the strap I7 but will not permit the enlarged endof the strap with the insert 32 from leaving the slide and accordingly,there is provided in this manner the safety feature for the watch. Theoperation of the buckle is the same as with the form of the inventionabove described. The slide moves freely upon the strap H by the meregrasping of the end of the strap Il and With a slight lifting movementcausing the slide to move inwardly toward the wrist for securement ofthe tongue 36.

In Fig. 6, there is shown a construction wherein the safety feature ismade possible without the pivoted slide. The buckle has a main topportion 4i with depending and rearwardly extending side portions 15'?.to which the strap I6 is secured by a pin d3. A tongue d is pivoted onthe pin 43 and its free end is adapted to enter a top recess 45 on themember Si. In this manner, the tongue is held against lateraldisplacement when extended through an opening 24 of the strap l1.

In order to keep control of the strap Il by its enlarged end which hasthe insert 32, a rod or roller 35 extends between the side portions 42immediately below the top thereof, the spacing being such as to permitfree movement of the strap i7 therethrough except for the thickened endof the same containing the insert 32.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, there is shown a stillfurther form of the invention wherein the pivoted slide forms a part ofa buckle adapted for use with heavy belts or straps. This buckleincludes a U-shaped member 5l having a transverse portion 52 to whichone end or" the belt is attached and to which a long tongue 53 isconnected for pivotal adjustment with respect thereto.

On the free ends of the U-shaped member 5l there is pivotally connectedby pins 54, a pivotable slide member 55. This member has depending sideportions 5S receiving the pivot pins 5G. The slide 55 has a recess 5'?in its top face for receiving the end of the tongue 53. The slide can bepivoted from a position shown in Fig. 8 to a position shown in Fig. 9,but its pivotal movement away from the tongue 53 is limited by flattenedend surfaces 5S on the ends of the U-shaped member. The slide 55 has anotch 59 at the end of the recess 5l to keep control of the tongue whenthe slide 55 is p-ivoted to the position shown in Fig. 9.

It should be apparent that the slide 55 will pivot relative to thekJ-shaped member 5| to accommodate the free end of the belt through thebuckle. There is no necessity for the free end of the belt to bedistorted or worn while being passed through the buckle. The free end ofthe belt can remain substantially straight while the slide or the buckleglides thereover. When the buckle is in the proper location on the freeend of the belt, it can be made fixed by the tongue 53 being extendedthrough any one of a series of openings which are provided in the belt.

The notch 5d maintains control of the tongue 53 and will center andguide the free end of the tongue into place and into the recess 51. Thetongue has its free end raised above the main portion of the same andits vertical part thereof will enter the notch 59 so as to lie flushwith the rear edge of the slide whereby the vertical part of the freeend as well as the horizontal part thereof will be thoroughly maintainedwithin the recess 5l and the notch 59. Since the tongue is extendedthrough the openings of the belt or strap, the horizontal part of thefree end of the tongue will be about all that will bear on the top faceof the slide. The vertical part of the free end of the tongue passesthrough the opening. The horizontal part of the free end of the tonguewill accordingly be conned Within the notch and recess so as not tointerfere with other pieces of clothing or to provide an obstruction onwhich anything may become caught or torn. With the vertical part of thefree end of the tongue lying iiush with the edge of the slide, a moredecorative appearance is given to the front face of the slide. Thetongue part will appear to have the same width as the slide. Thevertical part of the free end of the tongue engaging with the edge ofthe slide within the notch t9 provides a stop to limit the rearwardpivotal movement of the slide. v

While Various changes may be made in the- Y able slide through which astrap end may be passed, means for attachinfT the slide to a secondstrap end for pivotable movement with res ect thereto, and a tonguepivotally mounted .v on the second strap end to engage with the top ofthe pivotable slide, said pivotable slide having a top recess extendinga substantial distance thereover for receiving the free end of thetongue to retain the same against lateral displacement, said slide andsaid tongue being pivotable about different axes, said slide having anotch in the edge thereof facing said tongue and at the end o5 the toprecess, said tongue having a vertical portion and a horizontal free endportion in continuation of the vertical portion, said vertical portionof the tongue passing through the one strap end and lying within thenotch of the slide and within the confines of the edge of the slideandthe horizontal portion lying in the top recess.

2. A buckle construction comprising a pivotable slide through which astrap end may be passed, means for attaching the slide to a second strapend for pivotable movement with respect thereto, and a tongue adapted toenter openings in the first strap end and pivotally mounted on the strapto engage with the top of the pivotable slide, said pivotable slidehaving a top recess Afor receiving the free end of the tongue to retainthe same against lateral displacement, said pivotable slide having anotch in the edge thereof aligned with the top recess to receive the endof the tongue when the slide is pivoted and to retain the tongue againstlateral displacement, said attaching means for the slide having a stopfor limiting the turning movement of the slide and to prevent therebythe tongue from passing to the opposite side of the slide.

3. A buckle construction comprising a U-shaped member adapted to besecured to the end of a strap, a pivotal slide having top and dependingside portions and means for pivotally connecting the side portions tothe ends of the legs of the U-shaped member for pivotal adjustmentwhereby the buckle may adapt itself to the strap which may be pulledthrough the same, and a tongue pivotally connected to the U-shapedmember and adapted to engage with the top of the pivotal slide, the legshaving iiat end surfaces engageable by the slide top portion to limitthe pivotal movement of the slide and to prevent the passing through ofthe tongue from one side of the slide to the other, said slide having anotch in its edge for receiving the end of the tongue to retain the sameagainst lateral displacement when the slide is pivotedagainst the flatend surfaces of the leg ends. Y

4. A buckle construction' comprising a pivotable slide through which astrap end may be passedI means for attaching the slide to a second strapend for pivotable movement with respect thereto, and a tongue pivotallymounted on the second strap end adapted to enter openings of the rststrap end and to engage withl the slide, said attaching means for theslide having a stop portion thereon to limit the pivotal movement of theslide away from the tongue and thereby to maintain control of the tongueat all times, said f slide having top and depending side portions,

said slide attaching means including a` U-shaped member with forwardlyextending legs, said slide depending side portions being pivotallyconnected to the ends of the legs of the U-shaped member, the pivot axisof the pvotable slide being nearer to the outer edge of the slide thanto the tongue engaging edge of the slide.

` JACOB S. FEINER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

